Note to followers

We were able to get in a marathon posting session last night, and we are up to date.  You may (or may not) want to revisit the Wartburg Castle, Berlin I and Copenhagen II postings.  Many new pics have been added.

Thanks for your interest in us and our blog.

Copenhagen II - Tivoli Gardens

Tivoli Gardens is kind of like any other amusement park you would visit, except that:

• It was founded in the first half of the 19th century.
• It is in the center of Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark.
• It is landscaped like well-known gardens are, e.g. Butchart Gardens in Victoria, BC, or Bellingrath Gardens near Mobile, AL.
• It has at least a half dozen white tablecloth restaurants.
• It has a first class concert hall.
• It contains a huge salt-water aquarium.

Tivoli Gardens entrance

The park is dotted with beds of beautiful, healthy shrubs and flowers.  We think this is probably the first thing that would distinguish Tivoli from most other parks.

And yes, there are rides!  We have been told that the world's first Ferris wheel was erected  here in the 1800s.

Could this be it?

We rode this one.  Betty tells me she opened her eyes a couple of times.

One of the restaurants was housed in a pirate ship!

Steak and halibut.  Martina took this picture of us.

Tivoli Gardens at night is in some ways more amazing than by day, because of all the lights

James Taylor concert venue

Another amazing self-photograph

And yes, the James Taylor concert was fabulous.  He was to play in Berlin the next night.

No photography allowed during the concert.

Goodnight, Tivoli Gardens!

View of Betty's ride from our third floor hotel room.

Berlin I

The Christian retreat center where we spent last night, "Haus der Stille" or "House of Silence", is well-named.  We had a wonderfully restful night and a delicious breakfast before we departed for Berlin.  A special treat was having the party at the other table, who were there representing several church choirs, sing their prayer of thanks in wonderful harmony before eating their morning meal.

 

 

Botho's classroom

Berlin is a 3.5 hour drive from our starting point today.  That is, it's 3.5 hours assuming you have the Autobahn, a fine vehicle, and Botho's driving experience.  It was a beautiful thing.  By the way, we were being passed as I took this shot:

Fields of canola were all along the way.

Gisela's travel snacks

 Upon arriving in Berlin we checked into our hotel, parked the Volvo, and took the train into the city.  Gisela had reserved tickets for a tour of the "Bundestag", or German House of Parliament.

The dome ahead is part of the Bundestag.

The German Bundestag, analogous to the US Capitol

"For the German people"

While the exterior architecture is 150 years old, the center of the structure is modern, culminating in this dome which we climbed to enjoy 360 views of the City.  The mirrored center reflects light down into the meeting room of the Bundestag.

The historical Berlin Wall is an almost unavoidable feature of the City.  The dark line above the sign marks the exact boundary between East and West Berlin during the years 1961 to 1989.

These crosses memorialize those who were killed trying to reach the West and freedom by swimming across the boundary line, which was in the middle of the river.  There are many other crosses in other locations along the Wall.

One of the most iconic locations in Berlin is the Brandenburg Gate.  In 1989 President Reagan was near this gate on the western side when he famously challenged, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"

Brandenburg Gate

 Other sights we saw today in Berlin:

Six rider tricycle - everybody pedals!

Mercedes Benz taxicabs

Teddy bear store

Berlin's largest Protestant church (Lutheran)

Finally, Berliners really like to eat outside!

View outside restaurant

View inside restaurant!

A great ending to a another great day.  Thank you, Lord!

Wartburg Castle, et al

I got up early enough to snap some pictures of the attractive and comfortable Heinz home in Haiger, Germany.  This was Botho's parents' home, built by his father after the war.

Water garden

Functioning back yard train track that Botho built for his two sons.  Botho's father was a railroad man.

We left their home this morning around 7:30 a.m.  We breakfasted at a McDonald's "McCafe" (very nice, very upscale, very much different and nicer than most US McDonald's).  Our first stop was "Point Alpha", said to have been the most dangerous spot on earth during most of the Cold War years, 1945 to 1989.  During this period American soldiers kept a tense watch on Russian and East German soldiers positioned mere yards away, across the line that divided Germany into East and West.

American Guard Tower

Russian tower across the line

There were flashpoints, certain to create an incident if violated.  Bringing armaments past this point was one of them.

We arrived at Wartburg Castle near Eisenach around 1:00 p.m.  This site's main distinction (among many) is that Martin Luther translated the New Testament into German here in the year 1521.

Castle watchtower

The Great Hall, with seating for over 300 then (16th century) to now.

Martin Luther translated the New Testament into German in ten months at this desk.

This coat of armor was on display in the castle's excellent museum.

Wartburg Castle

The four of us enjoyed a late lunch of a Thuringia sausage on a roll with mustard while walking in the old and picturesque city of Eisenach.  Johann Sebastian Bach's birthplace is there.  There is also in this city the Luther House, where Martin Luther went to study Latin from 1498 to 1501.

Delicious!

J. S. Bach

 

  Bach's Birthplace

Luther House

We also visited this beautiful church in Eisenach.

Bach again.

"A Mighty Fortress is Our God"

Martin Luther

As we drove along the Autobahn, we passed three castles.

Leaving Eisenach, we traveled to Erfurt, where we enjoyed a spendid traditional German dinner together in a sidewalk cafe.  We are spending tonight in Friedrichroda at the Haus der Stille, a private Christian retreat center which serves as one of Botho's frequent teaching venues.

We heard the magnificent sound of a huge pipe organ played here!

 

Erfurt Plaza, where we ate our evening meal.